US Banana Giant Chiquita Fires Thousands Over Panama Strike
President Jose Raul Mulino, Whose Changes to Social Security Laws Promptted the Protest, Called the Strike ‘Illegal’ and Said the Company Has ‘Just Cause’ for the Layoffs.
Banana producer chiquita has announed mass Layoffs in Panama Amid an ongoing Strike.
The United States-Awned Banana Giant Said on Friday it was Letting “All” Daily Labours Go for the “Unjustified Abandonment of Work at Our Plantations”.
WORKERS HAVE BEEN ON STRIKE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, AS part of Nation-Wide Industrial Action Action New Social Security Laws Lowering Pensions. The Government has branded the strikes “illegal” and said the sackings are the result of workers “” Intransigence “.
Chiquita said in a staff that the stroke has caused “Irreversible damage .. (and) at least $ 75 million in losses”, adding that is affected by the Layoffs are required to collect severance payments.
The Company Did Not Elaborate on the Number of People Affected by the Decision. Howver, The Reuters News Agency Reported That About 5,000 Workers Out of 6,500 Have Lost Their Jobs, Reference to an Unnaamed Source.
‘De facto’ or ‘indefinite’ Strike
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino Defended Chiquita’s Actions at a News Conference on Thursday.
“The Company Will Have to Act Accordingly, Dissmissing Those Necessary to Save Its Operation in Bocas (A Caribbean Province in Panama). Believe me, It Hurts, but this intransigence is not good,” he said.
“The Strike is illegal,” Mulino Added. “The Next Step Acciting to the Labour Code is Dismissal With Just Cause Causes is a de facto strike, not a legitimate strike.”
Howver, Francisco Smith, Secretary-General of the Banana Industry Workers Union (Sitraibana), Told the Panamanian Television Channel Telemetro on Thursday that the Strike was Legal Because the “MPs Approved Bill 462 Harmed the Banana Sector”.
PASSED IN MARCH, BILL 462 Introduced Changes to the Social Security Fund That Could Lead to A Possible Reduction in Pensions.
The Introduction of the Led to Significant Anger, With Unions, Including Banana Workers, Joining a National Strike on April 23.
The Government and Sitraibana Held A Prediminary Meeting on Thursday to Discuss amendments to the Bill, Which Wold Include Protections for Banana Farmers.
Still, Smith Said, “The Strike Continues, We Continue Fighting in the Streets … The Strike is Indefinite.”
Panama’s Banana industry is a significant part of the Country’s Economy.
Accounting to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, in 2023, Panama Exported $ 273m Worth of Bananas, Making It The 13th Larger Exporter in the World.